By Uche Onyeali 

Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested suspected killers of Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, an in-law to to Governor Douye Diri.

The 50-year-old Ogbolosingha was the paramount ruler of Kalaba community in Yenagoa Local Government Area. 

The suspects also allegedly murdered the Chairman of Kalaba Community Development Committee, Kolibo Amabelimo, and Samuel Oburo. 

Disclosing the arrest of the suspects yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu told journalists during an interactive session in Yenagoa that Gideon Atama, 32, Bethlehem Nwanlia, 49 and Clever Ovo, 33, allegedly committed the crime in 2022.

Idu disclosed that while one of the suspects identified as Perekebi Nwanlia was deceased, both Atama and Bethlehem Nwalia were still at large, but Clever Ovo was in police custody.

According to him, Ovo has confessed that they are members of the notorious Endurance Amagbein gang whose leader, Endurance Amagbein, has since been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army over the alleged killing of 16 soldiers at Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State in 2024.

Idu said Gideon Atama was arrested with a mobile phone while dressed in army camouflage and well-kitted like a soldier, but “upon a close check on the phone, pictures of assorted rifles and voice notes of their previous operations were unravelled. They also mentioned sponsors of the vandalisation of installations and facilities in the region.”

Also, the police attached to Labrado Security Houseboat at Igbikiba in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area arrested a 20-year-old boat captain, Daniel Williams, involved in alleged cases of pipeline vandalisation.

Idu said Williams was allegedly involved in the recent attack on the 18-inch Tebidaba-Brass trunkline at Lascogbene community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area operated by Oando.

“He was contacted by the suspect and the wanted Amaegbein to convey and deliver pipeline vandalisation equipment such as two filing machines, five blades, five cutters, two machetes, five rechargeable head lamps, two Itel phones, two radio sets, foodstuffs and toiletries to enable him perpetrate his oil bunkering plans, despite the riot act being read to security agencies operating in the Niger Delta by President Bola Tinubu. The suspect will be charged to court soon,” the CP said.

By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has officially commenced the 2025 Hajj operations with the departure of its advance team to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Principal Information Officer, NAHCON, Shafii Mohammed, in Abuja, yesterday.

Mohammed stated that the team, comprising key operational staff and senior members of the National Medical Team, departed Abuja yesterday, following a farewell ceremony held at the Hajj House.

Director of Administration and Human Resources, Alhaji Babagana Bukar, commended the team’s performance during the previous Hajj and reaffirmed his trust in them. 

He appealed to the NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh, and the management to continue to extend support to the team to ensure successful outing.

In his address, the NAHCON chairman urged the team to approach the assignment with deep sense of duty and commitment, emphasising the sanctity of the task ahead.

Saleh said “you are not going there to sleep, you are going there to serve the guests of Allah.

“Please cooperate, help one another, work as a team, and discharge your responsibilities with sincerity. If you succeed, the commission succeeds.”

He assured them of the commission’s backing and reminded them to fear Allah as they execute their duties.

On his part, the Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services, PRSILS, Professor Abubakar Yagawal described the team’s role as central and strategic to the success of the operation.

He said “you are expected to carry out your responsibilities with the highest level of responsibility, dedication and patience.”

He urged the team members to approach the tasks with purpose and integrity.

The commission’s Secretary, Dr Mustapha Sani, assured the team that welfare packages had already been approved by the chairman, reiterating NAHCON’s commitment to staff support throughout the Hajj period.

“You are laying the foundation for this year’s operation. Your success is the commission’s success,” he affirmed.

Director of Inspectorate and Compliance and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Malam Alidu Shutti, who spoke on behalf of the team, expressed gratitude for the trust placed in them.

He added that “we are professionals. We are tested and capable hands. We will not let you down.”

He also sought for the chairman’s continuous support as they undertake their responsibilities.

The advance team is responsible for establishing the groundwork for the entire Hajj operation, including accommodation arrangements, airport reception protocols and coordination with Saudi Hajj authorities.

The team’s efforts will pave the way for seamless arrival and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims, medical personnel and state officials.

The departure of the Advance Team marks a major milestone in the 2025 Hajj preparations and the official start of Nigeria’s participation in this year’s pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. NAN

By Uche Onyeali 

President Bola Tinubu yesterday approved the deployment of two new permanent secretaries to key ministries.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Director of Public Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Eno Olotu, said the deployment is aimed at enhancing governance and promoting effective service delivery.

According to the statement, the permanent secretaries were appointed following a competitive selection process and are expected to bring experience, professionalism and innovation to their respective roles.

Olotu said one of the new permanent secretaries, Mr Rafiu Adeladan was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, while Dr Mukhtar Mohammed was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.

“The HCSF, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack congratulated the new appointees and urged them to demonstrate professionalism, accountability and leadership in their new assignments.

“She reiterated the federal government’s commitment to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure efficient policy implementation across ministries,” the statement said

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas has described renewable energy as the cornerstone for global development policy.

Abbas disclosed this while declaring open, the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy yesterday in Lagos.

The event was organised by the House Committee on Renewable Energy in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, under the Parliamentary Development Programme.

The speaker described the conference as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s legislative journey.

“It affirms our resolve to contribute meaningfully to global energy reform and to create opportunities for economic growth, industrial innovation and environmental resilience,” the speaker said.

He highlighted key legislative strides by the 10th House of Representatives to include: the creation of a Standing Committee on Renewable Energy to guide national priorities and the recent tax reform bills eliminating Value Added Tax on renewable energy and compressed natural gas, among others.

He noted that Strategic Objective 8.5 of the House Legislative Agenda prioritises the transition to clean energy through private investment incentives, public health reforms in cooking energy and emissions reduction.

Referencing global trends, the speaker observed that in 2024 alone, 585 gigawatts of renewable energy were added globally—accounting for over 92 percent of new power capacity—with $1.7 trillion invested in clean energy technologies in 2023.

“What was once considered a fringe alternative is now the backbone of global power development.

“Nigeria must align with this trend to safeguard our economy and environment,” he added.

The speaker commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for passing the Electricity Act of 2023, which devolved power generation authority to sub-national entities, and for approving $1 billion in financing for rural solar expansion.

“Of this amount, $750 million has been allocated to expand solar energy access in underserved areas.

“As a result, this initiative has led to the deployment of 124  mini-grids and over 25,000 solar home systems, benefiting more than 200,000 people.

The speaker also spotlighted Nigeria’s role in continental efforts such as the Mission 300 Initiative with the World Bank and African Development Bank, which seeks to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

He called on all stakeholders —government, private sector, civil society —to act with purpose and clarity, stressing the importance of converting conference resolutions into actionable legislation, scalable technologies, and impactful investment.